Closure device with cleaning of a pouring hole

Abstract

Closure device for a pouring hole (2) having a vertical axis, arranged in the base (11) of a container (1) containing molten metal. The device comprises a flap (3) fixed to the end of a maneuvering arm (3) which is horizontally displaceable to a level below that of the base (11), between a stand-by position and a closure position, and a device for controlling the vertical displacement at least of the end of the arm (31) in order to apply the closure flap (3) on a seating (22) on the periphery of the discharge orifice of the pouring hole (2). The maneuvering arm (31) has a cleaning member (5) located beside the closure flap (3) and centered on the trajectory of the latter. The arm (31) may be stopped in two positions of alignment, with the flap (3) and with the cleaning member (5), respectively, in the axis of the pouring hole (2), and in a position of alignment with the cleaning member, at a level which is adjustable with respect to the seating (22) of the flap (3) in order to remove metal residue adhering to the edge of the discharge orifice.

I claim: 
     
       1. Device for cleaning and closing a pouring hole (2) having a vertical axis (20), said pouring hole being provided in a base (11) of a container (1) containing molten metal, said pouring hole being delimited by a refractory cladding (21) a periphery of which forms a seating (22) on a lower surface (13) of said base (11) of said container (1), said molten metal forming, after pouring, a solidified residue extending on a periphery of said seating (22), said cleaning and closing device comprising (a) a maneuvering arm (31) mounted for rotation about an axis (30) parallel to said vertical axis (2) of said pouring hole and comprising first and second branches (34, 35) extending radially from said axis of rotation (30) and having the same length;   (b) a closure flap (3) mounted at a free end of said first branch (34) of said maneuvering arm and a cleaning member (5) mounted at a free end of said second branch (35) of said maneuvering arm;   (c) means (4) for rotating said maneuvering arm (31) about its vertical axis for controlling horizontal displacement of said closure flap (3) and of said cleaning member (5) from a stand-by position along a trajectory passing through said axis (20) of said pouring hole (2) to a lower maneuvering level below that of said base (11) and for stopping said maneuvering arm in two different angular positions, respectively a cleaning position in which said cleaning members are centered on said axis of said pouring hole (2) and a closing position in which said closure flap (3) is centered on said axis of said pouring hole (2); and   (d) lowering means (43) and raising means (15) for controlling vertical displacement of said maneuvering arm (31) and for determining positioning of said arm (31) at a lower maneuvering level, an adjustable intermediate cleaning level, and an upper closing level, respectively;   (e) said rotating means (4) and said means for controlling vertical displacement (43, 15) of said maneuvering arm (31) being associated for determining successively: (i) rotation of said maneuvering arm (31) at said lower level and stoppage of said arm in said cleaning position;   (ii) raising of said cleaning member at said adjustable intermediate level for removing said residue and cleaning said seating;   (iii) returning of said arm (31) to said lower level and the rotation and stoppage of said arm (31) in said closing position; and   (iv) raising of said closure flap to said upper level to apply it to said seating (22).     
     
     
       2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein an upper part of said cleaning member (5) has a diameter smaller than a diameter of said pouring hole, said diameter of said cleaning member increasing toward a base of said cleaning member to a diameter which is greater than that of said pouring hole. 
     
     
       3. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning member consists of a metal brush (5) associated with means (52) for controlling rotation of said brush about an axis parallel to said axis of said pouring hole. 
     
     
       4. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning member comprises a spindle (61) extending beyond said free end (36) of said second branch (35) of said maneuvering arm (31) along an axis (60) parallel to said axis of said pouring hole, said spindle being associated with means (52) for controlling rapid rotation of said spindle (61) about its axis, a plurality of bars (6) forming hammers, each of said hammers being fixed to said spindle (61) by means of an articulated connection (62, 63) so as to hang alongside said spindle (61) in a rest position and to move away radially by centrifugal force when said spindle (61) rotates. 
     
     
       5. Cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein said hammers (6) have lengths which decrease as they become more remote from the base connecting said spindle (61) to said second branch (35) of said maneuvering arm (31). 
     
     
       6. Cleaning device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said cleaning member is driven in rotation by a motor (52) fixed directly to said free end (36) of said second branch (35) of said maneuvering arm (31). 
     
     
       7. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning member consists of a part comprising at least two jaws (8) for gripping said solid residue (16). 
     
     
       8. Cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein said jaws (8) are mounted so as to hinge on an end of said maneuvering arm, each of said jaws being hinged about an axis (81) orthogonal to said axis (20) of said pouring hole, and interacting with a mandrel (7) mounted for sliding movement along a central axis (70) parallel to said axis of said pouring hole and comprising a frusto-conical portion (75) which can penetrate into the pouring hole (2) upon removal of said solid residue (16). 
     
     
       9. Cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein said mandrel (7) comprises a part forming a cam (72) which, by means of axial displacement, controls opening and closure of said jaws (8) by resting on a lever (84) which is solid with each said jaw (8). 
     
     
       10. Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning member consists of a nozzle means (9) mounted so as to project at an end (36) of said second branch (35) of said maneuvering arm (31), said nozzle means comprising at least one injection orifice (91) connected to a circuit (93) for feeding combustive gas into said nozzle.